Hi,

We only send our kids for Chinese class as we don’t speak Mandarin at home. Others than that it s really up to kids ’ interests. Most kids here d attend enrichment classes like Ballet, music, art or sports.

Cluelessmum:

Hi,


I read lotsa good feedback on CH turf club, anyone has feedback on CH Forum?
Thanks!

Hi Cluelessmum,
I have two children attending Chiltern House at Forum now. Without doubt, Chiltern House is one of the best schools here. (This is based on my humble experiences of moving my 1st child around for two years.)
Now My children look forward going to school everyday.
Once your kid becomes a student here, the staff s flexible, informative, helpful, and responsive. The school teaches kid good values. (discipline, sharing, taking turn, friendship, etc) My kids aways say she loves all her friends.
In terms of academic, the school s indeed preparing kid well. The school curriculum is very well planned introducing academic the fun and age appropriate ways. (no serious chair bounding) They also groom kid to be a great reader and confident speaker. (books both in chinese and english feom school almost on daily basis) The class size is indeed very small. (10-14 children / 2 teachers)
Even though it s just a half day program, but their day packs of fullfilled activities by highly qualified teachers. Chinese lesson is solid 45 mins daily. All children will have a chance to speak out. The chinese teachers here are attentative, genuinely very nice, helpful and highly qualified. good luck!
It s money well spent here.

We finally gave up our gal space for PNPG session 1 -2012 at Harding road. Too much disruption and the fee is getting more expensive for 3 hrs kindy.

[/quote]


Need some advice from you, my son is K1 this year at Carpe Diem but last day is end of Feb'11.
I have the following calculations:

Option 1

-To find a childcare centre/ preschool with school fees (inclusive of subsidy) + school bus (if any) in total of not more than S$600.

-Add Speech & Drama enrichment S$120/ month.
-Add FasTracKids S$170/ month.

Total for option 1 is S$900/ mth.

Option 2

-Just sign up for MindChamps preschool for S$1000/ month (after subsidy).,
But not enrichment classes.


I really like MindChamps as it's just walking distance from my home, but the schools fees are cut throat for me as I could not afford to have any additional enrichment programmes for my boy.


Hope you could give some sugguestions..
:?:



Mummies here in this topic are welcome to share your experience with me too. Appreciated. [/quote]


Hi Darkcoco,

It seems to me that both options will probably cost you about the same amount per month once you consider the transportation and parking costs into it.

For me, I'll choose option 2.
Assume the quality of teachers at both are the same, the reasons are..

1) close distant to your house - safe time and transportation cost (Happy & relax kid = happy learner)
2) Assume, you and your spouse working - All enrichment classes'll have to be arranged during the weekend (less time spending together)
3) 5 different enrichments included at Mindchamps full-day program 'll probably cost you additional $500/ month (5 x $100-150/ subject).
4) Small child is generally more difficult to settle at new environment. Until they settle in, they won't learn much. (Imagine, you've to go through it 5 times at 5 different enrichment centers)


Good luck school hunting!

Mrs Ang:

Is Shichida effective? I heard different feedbacks.

It's so true whether the course is effective or not entirely depending on the parents effort in home practicing, not on attending the 75 mins class once a week. It 's a lot of hard work to prepare and plan for teaching materials, but the actual execution itself is only 15 mins daily.
Furthermore, you really need to give your kid at least a year or two with the course to see some results.

So far, we've been very happy with ourselves and our kid progression. My gal has good memory. She can memorize at least 100 words by 18 mths old. Now she (25 mths old) try to read simple story book by herself.

It's so hard to find optimum point. We just try to do best for our kids.


All expenses are on monthly basis.
our 1st DD (25 mths old)
S$ 1580 Play group class at Mindchamps Pre-school (full-day program including all enrichment programs by school)
S$ 300 Shichida

Our 2nd DD (10 mths old)
S$ 300 Shichida
S$ 150 Gymnastic
S$ 70 Swimming

+S$ 200 story books and educational toys

so far, all for kids. I cut down all personal expenses. No more shopping shopping.